The Realm of Rational Thought

In the realm of rational thought, deductive and logical argumentation is highly prized. But although familiarity with the basic laws of logical reasoning can help you clarify your thoughts and strengthen your arguments, please don’t think that the laws of logic are—metaphysically speaking—equal to the laws of thought.

Rational thought covers many different approaches to thinking and reasoning, of which deductive logical reasoning is but one; other approaches to rational thought include inductive reasoning, statistical (or probabilistic) reasoning, intuitive reasoning, and emotional reasoning.

Human cognition is a product of a complex neural system. And complex neural systems are, intrinsically, capable of rational thought—thought in all its myriad guises and forms of expression.